Compressed gas release



Jan. 25, 1944. H. N. RIDER 2,340,143

COMPRESSED GAS RELEASE Filed Dec. 24, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mmm NWDE Jag. 25, 1944. H. N. `RIDER COMPRESSE D GAS RELEASE Filed Dec.. 24, 1341 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Znnentor #M M Eit/er W (Ittorneg 'comprises in Patented Jan. 25, 1944 2,349&

UNITED STATES ?ATENT OFFICE i 2 ,340, 4 i COMPRESSED GAS RELEASE 4 N. Rider, Youngstown,. hio, assigior. to *Automatic* Sprinkler Company of America, Youngstown Ohio, a cor o atijoi of Ilelawae j Application December 24, 1941, se-iaiNo. 4245265 sel m; (01; iee- 9 Thisinvention relates to a mechariism adapted t'o releasecompressed g'ases and more'particularly to such a mec'hanism adapted to operate in: con- 'junotion with conventional compressed gas cylinde s so as to cause the compressed 'gases therein to oe released therefrom, the particular adaptatiun of the compressed gas release comprising an association With a pressure tank sprinkler system Whe'r'ein the compressed gases released from the compressed gas cylinders by the compressed gas release mechanism serve to apply pressure to fluid in the pressu'e tank.

The principal object of the invention is the provision 'of a compressed gas release mechanism capable upon actuation, of releasing compressed ga'ses from compressed gas cylinders.

A further object of the invention is the provi. sion of a compressed gas mechanism'adapted to release comp'essed gas'es from compressed gas cylinders and simultaneously cause a signal to be given to indicate the release` of the ga'ses.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a compressed gas release mechan ism so designed as to be actuated upon a decrease of air pressure comprising a pneu'matic impulse origihated by a sucton chamber associated with a fluid filled sprinkler system.

The compressed gas release mechanism shownad described herein is adapted to be used with and actually forms a part of a pressure tank sprinklersystem which system is disclo sed 'in my Patent #2277373 of March 31, '1942, on Pressure tank sprinkler systems. The compressedgasrele'ase mechansm shown 'and described' herein &1099,059 of November Is, '1937,' t'o E. A.- ;wwe et al., wherein a pressure resf'onsive weight releas'ng mechar'sm is adequately set forth as to it's complete structure and Operating prihciples, which prss'ure responsive weight releasng rhech auism is incorporated in and' forms a' part of 'the compressed gas flease m'e'chanis r herein disolosed. In order' to simplify the present 'dis closure, the pressure responsive weight releasing meohanism is not' herein described; or illustrated as it is'well-khown in the art.

With the foregoing and other objects View which will appear as the descriptioh proceeds, the ihve'ntion resides in the cmbination and arra' gmnts of parts' ariu in the det'ai ls of con s t'ruotio'n hereinafter described and claimed, it being u'nd'erstood that changes in the preoise embodihent' of 'the inven'tio'n herei disclesed,

can be made within the scopeofwhat is claimed part the subject matter of Patert cil' 'in 'Figura 2' indicates' the :Without departing from the spirit' oi the invention: 0

v Theinvention isillustrated in the ing drawir'g's whereimv i 'Figure 1 is a-side' elevation; with parts in crosssection` on the-line l-l 'of 'Figur 2, showing' the oompressed'gas release m'e'chanism in operative association with a compressed'gas cylinder.

Figure 2" isa 'front elevation with 'parts broken away showingthe compressed'gas release medhanism illustrated in 'Figure 1'; 'Section line l-'-l position of the cross- &060311334113 section shown in Figure 1.

v FigureB's a cross sectional elevation taken' on lines3-' '3'of 'Figure 1' and shows in" 'detail a portion of the; release latch thereof. i

' Figu're 4 is a cross-sectional 'side "e'l'evation 'similar t'o'Figure '1` showing a 'modified form of compressed gas release' t 'Figure 5 is a front'elevati'on withp'arts broken away *showing a modified form of the invention wherein: a sol'enoid replaces the p'neumatic release.. -Figu e fy is similar in'other' re'sp'ets to Figure 2 of'the drawings.

The compressed gas release mechanisrh :hereih set forth has been designed to control"the ap plication of com'pressed gasesto 'a pressure tani: of a pressure 'tank spr in'klersystem. It is known that pressure tank sprihkler'systems are used to furnish sprinkle'r protection tobuildings located in :areas where there 'is no city' water supply available or where the city water supply is not dependable, and that such pressuretank sprin' kler systems generally. com'prise a 'storage tank for the fire ex-tinguishing' fluid, which' is' connectedto a` sp'rinkler 'system which gen'erally comprises a riser 'and: a' pl'urality 'of sprihklers positioned on suitable piping eommunic'ating therewith. Variousmeanshaveheretofore been employed -for causing the fire'extihguishing fluid 'in the storage tank `of the sp'rinkler system-to be .expelled from the tank through the sprinklers. The' present invention =relates to `'a specific form of p'ressure tanksprinkler'system' in' which :c onpressed gas, 'prefera'bly nitrogen; 'supplied' 'in the conventional oo'mpressed gas cylinders commercially available, is used as' the agent 'to apply pressure to the storage tank and force the fire extin'guishing fluid therefrom. By referring to the drawihgs and to Figura-1 'in particular, it illi-be' seenthata %presentation of a portion of :aso'mpressed' gas cylirderjis indicatedbythe numeral lil-and that the^--d "e1ivery ;end 'of the c'ylih der lio is 'positioned partly within alower portion *of a housing H-wh'ich' housing encloses lease mechanism depends.

the compressed gas release mechanism, which comprises a pair of guide rods I2 positioned vertically within the housing ll and adapted to guide a weight !3 capable of vertical movement thereon and which weight l`3 is normally suspended in elevated relation at the upper end of the guide rods I2 by means of a supporting finger |4 which is formed on a latch lever I5 which in turn is pivoted on a pivot !6 and which latch member l5 engages a portion of a pressure responsive weight releasing mechanism generally indicated by the numeral I 'l which mechanism is the subject matter of Patent #2,'099,069 of November 16, 1937, to E. A.Lowe et al., wherein its complete structure and principles are adequately set forth. In operation as described in the patent to Lowe et al., and in the present device, a partial rotation of the latch lever !5 about its pivot [6 comprises the complete movement upon which the activation of the gas re'- As described in the above-mentioned patent to Lowe et al., the pressure responsive weight releasing mechanism 'l is constructed to be actuated on either an increase or decrease of pressure in air tubing, indicated by the numeral I 8, which would normally communicate with a suction chamber such as is described in my heretofore referred to Patent 2,277,873 which suction chamber is amxed to and communicates with a riser of a sprinkler system. It will thus be seen that when certain actions occur in a sprinkler system and in parts associated therewith, a pneumatic impulse is delivered to the pressure responsive weight releasing mechanism I'l which in turn results in the movement of a pressure sensitive diaphragm in the said pressure responsive mechanism l'l which permits a partia] rotation of a milled shaft s which in turn permits a lever 20 having a stop 2! formed thereon to move and, through a system of levers 22 and 23, also permits the latch lever [5 to rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot IS and thus permits the weight l3 to fall. It will thus be seen that, for example, a drop in the head of the liquid in a riser of the sprinkler system as upon the opening of a sprinkler results in a reduction of air pressure in the riser and in the subsequent reduction of air pressure in the airtubing !8 which communicates with the mechanism Il, thus actuating the same and causing the release of the various levers thereof so that the supporting finger M thereof may be moved downwardly as by the normal *tendency of the weight I 3.

Theweight I 3'is normally Suspended on the supporting'finger- !4 through the medium of a suitable latch 24 which is suitably mounted on the said weight and. which is normally held in operative position by means of 'a tension spring 25 which is attached to a depending portion of the latch 24 and to the weight I3. This latch structure permits the resetting of the weight |3 as the latch 24 will move. ou't of normal position when it` encounters the supporting finger M of the release mechanism IT upon being reset. A slot |3A is formed in the weight |3 and is of sufiicient width to clear the Operating arm 29 segment 26 pivoted at a point 21 to the gas release mechanism housing ll. As is most clearly illustrated in Figure 2, this gear segment 26 is provided with a plurality of suitable gear teeth 28 'and an outwardly and upwardly extending Operating arm 29 which is positioned adjacent to and between the lower portions of the guide rods !2 so that the weight I3 upon its release by the pressure responsive weight releasing mechanism l1 will drop upon the arm 29 with a hammer-like blow, and thus cause the same to move the gear segment 25 partially about its -pivot 21 in a clockwise direction so that the gear teeth 28 thereof suitably rotate a toothed gear 30 which in turn, is afiixed to a control valve 3l of the compressed gas cylinder o which extends, as may be seen in Figure 1, into the lower central portion of the release mechanism housing H. It will thus be observed that the actuation of the pressure responsive weight releasing mechanism l'l results in the drop of the weight I3 and the partial rotation of the gear segment 26 about its pivot 21 with the simultaneous opening of the control valve 3! of the compressed gas cylinder lo:

In order that the compressed gas thus released from the cylinder ID may be directed into a pressure tank of an associated "pressure tank spinkler system, a suitable coupling 32 and a conventional pressure regulator 33 are positioned in the' lower portion of the gas release mechanism housing ll, the coupling 32 being adapted to establish a suitable connection' between the pressure regulator 33 and the compressed gas cylinder o by way of'the control valve 3! thereof. suitable tubular connections 34 connect the pressure regulator 33 with the pressure tank of the pressure tank sprinkler system so that the reelased gases may enter thereinto and force the fire extinguishing fluid therefrom.

In order that a desirable' signal may be given upon the actuation of 'the release mechanism in the housing ll, a suitable electrical switch is incorporated in the structure thereof and is indicated in Figures 1 and 2 by the numeral 35. A projecting arm 36 of the switch 35 is depressed by the weight l3 when the same is dropped thus effectively establishing an electrical circuit through the switch 35 which may be used to energize an alarm signal.

The compressed gas release mechanism enclosed lnthe housing ll and the compressed gas cylinder !0 are preferably mounted upon the pressure tank of the pressure tank sprinkler system by means of suitable mounting brackets and it will be obvious that some 'of'these mounting brackets may be employed to position and support the compressed gas cylinder I 0 upon the pressure tank of the pressure tank sprinkler system and in operative relationship to the release mechanism hereinbefore described. In additionthereto, adjusting screws 31 are provided so that the cylinder lil may be moved thereby into proper alignment with respect to the gas release mechanism in the housing II. These adjusting screws also serve to properly align the `neck and valve portions of the gas cylinder I!) its accurateand dependable support and positioning with respect to the gear segment 26. It is obvious that the toothedgear 30 is substituted for the conventional hand wheel conim-only supplied with compressed gas cylinders.

By referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that a cover portion 38, 'the majority of which has been broken away in the safety la'tch 40 will tend to move into 'efiective Operating position as 'shown in Figur'e 1, so that an actual release of the weight !3 Will not result in the movement of the gear segment 26 due to the weight's striking an upwardly projecting portion 42 'of the safety latch 40. When the cover 39 is in position the safety' latch 4-9 is eectively moved into non-operative position (not shown), so that the 'upwardly projecting portion 42 thereof will not engage the weight l 3 and this will in no way interiore with the operation of the gas release mecha'nism. The-safety latch is provided so that the 'gas release mechanism in the housing ll may be opened and tested from time 'to time without actually releasing the gas from the 'cylinder zo to the pressure tank of the sprinkler systemas would otherwise be the case. Due to its U-shaped form and the 'fact that the pivot 4 1 is 'off center with respect to the latch proper, the safety latch's normal tendency is to move outwardly of 'the release mechanism upon the removal of the cover 39 thus bringing the upwardly proj'ectingportio'n 42 thereof into efiective position for blocking the complete dropping of the weight 'l'3, as 'shown in Figure 1.

By referring to Figure 4 of the drawings a modified form of gas release mechanisnr may be seen wherein certain portions of the device heretofore described are eli'minated and an electric motor substituted, the electric motor being indicated in the drawings by the numeral '44, a shaft 45 of which is couple& directly, preferably by means of a set screw, to a gear segment 46 which is similar in all respects to the gear' seg ment 25 heretoiore described and which' -i's adapted to engage a toothed gear 41 positioned on and formin'g a part of a control valve-48 & a compressed gas cylinder 49. A support arm supports the valve stem of the' 'control' valve 48 and in this modification as in the other form of the invention itis obvious that 'the toothed gear 41 is sub'stituted ior the hand wheel normally supplied with compressed gas' cylinder's. The gas, upon being released due to the partial rotation; by the motor 44, of the gear' segment 45 engaging the toothed gear 41-", news-through a coupling 5! and through'a; eonventionalregulater 52 and leaves the compressed' gas release meoharism by means of atube 53 'which passes through an opening in the housing 54 positioned about and forming' an enclosure for the mechanism. The tube 53 communicates with a pressure tank of a sprinkler system.

The housing 54 and the mechanisnr therein, is preferably mounted upon the pressure tank by means of suitable brackets and it will be obvious that the electric motor 44 must be of a type having a high initial starting torque in order to move the gear segment 46 and thus rotate the toothed gear 41 of the control valve 48. In order that the electric motor 44 may be controlled a .supply' line thereto is indicated by the numeral 55 and it will be observed that a switch 56 is cut into the supply line 55 by means of a, pair of wires 51 which switch is disposed above the gear segment 46 in a position so that the gear segment upon completing 'the .opening of the control valve 48 will rise into engagement with the switch 56 and cause the same to open and break the circuit and thus diseonnect the eleo'tric motor 44.

` As these devices must be manually reset and a new tank of gas supplied after each operation, the electric circuit to the motor will, therefore, remain 'broken until the gear segment is moved downwardly and the entire device reset for another operation.

It will be obvio-us to those skilied in the art that other mcdifications of this invention are possible 'and desirable under certain 'conditions one of which modifications would oomprise .the simple substitution of an electric actuated and controlled solenoid positioned in place of the pressure responsive release mechanism l'l and thereby 'controlling the Suspended' weight 13. By referring to Figure 5 of the drawing& it will be seen that a'modified form of the compressed gas release is illustrated wherein the release device as heret'ofore described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is adapted for electrical operation bythe substi-tution of an electrically controlled and actuated solenoid 59. The solenoid 59 is irrounted in operable manner within an enclosure`60 which compares in detai with the space occupied by the pneumatic gas release mechanism l'l heretofore described. .The enclosure 66 is formed within the upper portion of a compressed gas release mechanism ;housing si' in which the deliveryend 62 of a eompressed gas cylinder is positioned. The compressed ;gas release mechanism comprises a pair of guide 'r'ods 63 positioned vertically within the housing' 6! and adapted to guide a weight 64 capable of ver'- tical movement thereon and which weight 64 is normally suspended in elevated relation on the upper encls of the guide rods 63 by means of a supporting fing-er 65 which is formed' on :a latch lever 66 which in turn' is pivoted tothe housing Bl by means of a pivot 61. An upwardly extending portion of the latch lever 66' is adapted'to be releasably retained beneatha keeper 68 formed on 'a trigger member 69 which in turn is pivoted to the housing 6! by means of apivot 70. A downwardly and sidewardly extendng portion of the trigger member 69 extends .be-

neath the solenoid 59 se that the operative por t ion 'H of said solenoid is normally engaged in a 'gr-cove 12 in the trigger member 69. It will be observed that the weight 64 is Suspended in elevated relation on the guide rod 63 by means ofthe supporting finger 65 which is normally held in stationary position by the keeper sa of the trigger member 69- which in turn is n'ormally restrained by the Operating portion 'H: of

-the solenoid 59. Actuati'on of the soleneid 59 an operating arm 13 which is formed upon a the toothed gear 16 revolves the valve stem,

opens the valve and releases the compressed gas which is directed to its point of use by means' of a coupling 11 and, if desired, a conventional pressure regulator 18. It will beobserved that most of these operatnig portions of the compressed gas release mechanism are exactly the same as heretofore described and illustrated in Figure 2 of thefdrawings. In order to actuate the solenoid 59 or for that matter the electric motor 44 in Figure 4 of the drawings, electrical thermostats such as are commonly known in theart are employecl. In Figure 5 a suitable electrical thermostat and/or a system of such thermostats and any relay mechanisms necessary are electricallyconnected to the solenoid 59 by suitable electrical connections (not shown) which are well known in the art. be seen that the modified form of the 'compressed gas release mechanism is subjectto electrical control by electrical thermostats and which mechanism will upon actuation cause the weight 64 to be dropped which will impart a hammerlike blow to the gear segment 12 which in turn will revolve the valve of the compressed gas tanlc upon which valve the gear 16 is positioned and. result in the immediate and satisfactory release of the compressed gases.

Having thus'described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. A compressed gas release mechanism adapted to release compressed gases from a gas cylinder equipped with a rotatable control valve, the said release mechanism comprising a weight, a weight operated lever positioned in operative relation to the rotatable control valve of the said gas cylinder, and including structural means for suspending the weight above the said lever and means for dropping the said weight so as to open the rotatable control valve and' release the compressed gases from the 'said gas cylinder.

2. In a release mechanism adapted to release compressed gases from a compressed gas source, a release weight, a latch carried by said release weight, remotely controlled means for releasing the said 'weight and including a supporting element engageable beneath the said latch, a control valve for the said compressed gas source, a motion transmitting member positioned beneath the said release Weight and adapted to be moved thereby as upon the weightfls falling, the said motion transmitting member engaging' a gear on the said control valve and adapted to open the valve by means of. the movement imparted thereto by the said weight.

3. In a release mechanism adapted to release compressed gases from a compressed gassource, a release weight, a latch carriecl by said release weight, remotely controlled means for releasing 'the said weight and including a supporting ele- It will thue 'opens the said `control valve and releases the compressed gas from the compressed gas source.

4. A compressed gas release mechanism adapted to release compressed gases into a pressure: tank of a sprinkler system, the said compressed gas releasing mechanism comprising a housing, guide means positioned in said housing,

,a weight capable oi vertical movement positioned on the said guide means, a weight releasing mechanism positioned in the said housing and adapted to suitably suspend the said weight, an opening in the lower portion of the said housing adapted to permit the entrance thereinto of the valve portion of a compressedgas cylinder, a-gear 'affixed to the said valve and a gear segment pivoted to the said housing and engaging the said valve gear, an arm formed on the said gear segment adapted to engage the said weight in falling so that the said valve may be opened thereby.

5. In a compressed gas release mechanism the combination of a weight releasing mechanism and an-actuating weight suspended thereby, a gear segment, a weight engaging arm formed thereon and positioned so that the said actuating Weight in falling will move the said gear segment, a compressed gas source including a :control valve, a gear afflxed to the said control valve and engaging the said gear segment, so that movement of the said gear segment in response to the falling weight opens the said control valve and releases compressed gases from the said compressed gas source.

6. A compressed gas release mechanism adapted to release compressed gases intoa pressure tank of a sprinkler system the said compressed gas releasing mechanism co-mprising a housing, guide means positioned in said housing, a weight capable of vertical movement positioned on the said guide means, a weight releasing mechanism positioned in the said housing and adapted to suitably suspend the said weight, the said weight releasing mechanism comprising a latch lever having a weight supporting finger formed thereon, a trigger member normally restraining the movement of the said latch lever and an electrically actuated solenoid nor mally restraining movement of the said trigger member, an opening in the lower portion of the said housing adapted to permit the entrance thereinto of the valve portion of a compressed gas cylinder, a gear' afiixed to the said valve and a gear segment pivoted to the said housing and engaging the said valve gear, an arm formed on the said gear segment adapted to engage the said weight in falling so that the said valve may 'be opened thereby.

HARRY N. RIDER. 

